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Monday, June 30, 2014

Detective Natasha Foster will put her job on the line to
prove her gut feeling is dead on.

When Detective Foster responds to the scene of a crash, she finds the female
passenger dead, a bag full of money in the back seat and a body in the trunk.
It is only when the driver, whom she nicknames Jay, wakes up with no memory
that she must go with her instincts and continue the investigation in a way
that was never taught.

Jay finds himself lost, but drawn to the beautiful detective who steps above
and beyond the call of duty. His need to know if he was a victim or the
criminal pushes him to try and recall what happened and who he is. With the
pull of a trigger, Jay’s memory will suddenly return and with it, the terrible
truth.

Excerpt – Chapter 7 –
Jay

Normal
people wake up with random thoughts filling their mind; little remnants of
things they did the previous day or a list of stuff that was on their agenda
for the day. Not for me, though.

I woke up slowly, as if I was fighting to get above a heavy cloud. My
mind was sluggish, dark, and for the most part empty. The only thing that raced
through my brainwaves was the fact that I didn’t know what the hell was wrong
with me.

I heard a beep and a female voice in my room say, “He’s waking up.”

Another voice spoke from right beside me, as if they were only inches
from my head. “Okay, I’ll be right in.”

Right in where? You’re right next to my head! I tried to turn and
see where the voice came from, but pain radiated through my neck so I stopped.
I reached up to touch my neck and wondered why my hands felt so heavy. I
blinked and realized I had something attached to one of my fingers. I blinked
again. Where the hell am I?

“Hello, there?” the first woman said. She was wearing dark gray medical
scrubs and had an ID hanging around her neck. The name printed in large letters
was Julie.

I swallowed twice before I tried to speak. “Hello.”

Before the woman could say anything further, another woman in dark blue
scrubs hustled into the room and directly toward me.

“Well, hello there, sir. Nice to have you back with us.” She smiled and
glanced at the monitor near my head.

“Where am I?” I croaked through a dry throat, and tried to wet my lips
with my sandpaper tongue.

“You’re in Fairview Memorial Hospital. Do you remember what happened to
you?” The nurse drew her attention back to me as I tried to shake my head and
winced. “Don’t try to move your neck. You have some minor swelling in your
spine. The collar you are wearing will help give you support and limit your
movements until the swelling goes down and we know if there is any damage. How
do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” I rasped. “Can I have some water?”

“I’ll let you have a few sips, but you need to be careful. You were in a
car accident and have been unconscious for a while.” She stepped away and I
heard the click of fingers on a keyboard. There must be a computer behind me,
I thought.

She returned to my side. “Can you tell me your name?”

I stared into her face. She was
probably around forty and her brown eyes were intent on mine. My name?
“Um...” I searched my dark mind. What the hell is my name? I had no
clue.

She put her hand on my arm. “Calm down, it can be very confusing when you
wake up after an accident. Do you not remember your name?” I saw her glance up
at a monitor. I didn’t have to look to know my heart was racing. I could feel
it thudding in my chest.

“No, I can’t remember it,” I stated.

“What about where you live?” she asked slowly, turning her attention back
to me.

“Don’t know.”

“Is there anything you can tell me about yourself?” she questioned.

“I’m in a hospital.” I heard her chuckle.

“Okay, why don’t you rest for a little while? I’m going to let the doctor
know you’re awake. I’m sure it will all come back to you soon.”

“Do you know what my name is?”

She stared into my eyes. “Nope, I was hoping you could tell me.” She
patted my arm, allowed me to take a long sip of water from a straw, and then
turned and left the room.

Stacy is a full-time police officer who enjoys crime scene investigation
above all else, taking a passion in putting the pieces together to figure out
the crime. She is also a business owner where she helps people get the
awareness out for the causes they care most about. She is a mother of two, a
son proudly serving in the United States Navy and a young daughter. Her husband
is also in law enforcement. Stacy is also currently serving on the board of
directors for her local domestic violence center. She is very much into
photography and carries her Nikon Digital SLR with her almost everywhere, just
in case.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

b00k r3vi3ws: #BookReview :: Knowing Vera (Chance for Love): One thing that is very consistent about Rachelle Ayala’s novels is her amazing story-telling capability. It reflects in each of her novels as she takes us on a journey with her protagonists who slowly capture our hearts. The way she builds up the mystery is quite good and she manages to maintain the air of curiosity so well that you will not be able to take a guess until she is ready to let you take a guess. Another aspect of Rachelle’s writing is the amazing balance that the author maintains between mystery and romance. Not one aspect gets outshined by the other and that is maintained in this novel too. (Read More)

Saturday, June 28, 2014

On sale for 99c [LIMITED TIME] and if you're lucky to check in this weekend (FREE) [ON AMAZON]

I've read and enjoyed all three of these fun and sweet books. They deal with love in all the right and maybe wrong places, but have a happy ending. The authors have great voices, one even right as a man (Cover (Story) Girl), but there is a tinge of humor and fun in each book.

Here are my reviews:[Cover (Story) Girl by Chris Mariano]Way too delightful opposites attract story. Min He and Gio couldn't be more different. He is a staid, solid, if not quite boring museum curator, and she's a colorful mysterious Korean girl prone to fantasies and make believe. But their romance develops despite their differences and each brings color and perspective to the other. Cover (Story) Girl is one of the most enjoyable stories I've read lately and I finished it in a few hours, staying up late into the night. It is also one of the few romances written in the male point of view. You'll come to love Gio, even if you think he's a stick in the mud at the beginning.

I can't wait to read more by this author. I also enjoyed learning about the culture on Boracay Island.

[Vintage Love by Agay Llanera]What a delightful book. I was sucked in from the very first line, "Life is full of expiration dates."

When Chrissy's favorite grand-aunt, Mama Maring, dies and leaves behind a house full of vintage clothes, collectibles and furniture, Chrissy and her BFF, Bea, decide to hold a rummage sale to raise money for a well deserved vacation.

The two friend meet an arrogant young man, Vince, who looked over Mama Maring's things as if they were fakes trying to rip him off. Chrissy is chagrined that such a beautiful face could be wasted on an ass. However, when they go to consign the rest of the loot, the store they walk into belong to none other than Vince and his father.

Uh oh! I won't give it away except to say that the story is fun to read, the side characters are colorful, Chrissy is a heroine you want to root for, and Vince becomes more endearing as the story goes on.

What I like the most is Miss Llanera's voice and the way she tells the story in a cheerful, humorous manner. I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I definitely will look forward to more stories from Miss Llanera.
[All's Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria]I've been enjoying light-hearted Filipina romances and this is one of the cutest. Five Cuevas and competing blogger Jesse Ruiz have been invited by the Macau tourism board on a complimentary trip to Macau for publicity purposes. Five takes an instant dislike to the arrogant, stuffy Jesse who exudes superiority with his every gesture. He's the one with the hot shot camera, the expert in advertising, the know-it-all. But things change when Cuevas has a late night fright and ends up in Jesse's room. Not only were they assigned to be travel buddies together, but they enjoy being side-tracked to the less well-traveled areas on Cueva's sister's list, and a super kilig midnight photo shoot in front of an abandoned church.

I've never been to Macau, but after reading this book, I have a hankering to go, especially if I get to be travel buddies with a handsome, sexy blog buddy. The descriptions are awesome, the food is to be inhaled, and the fun adventures make you feel like you're right there with them. It turns out to be a really sweet story and a happy read.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Mary's Cup of Tea says: This is a complex romantic story that proves love can survive even hard times and personal tragedies. It puts into perspective what people think are necessary versus what is not reality. (Read More)

Saturday, June 21, 2014

YUMMommy: Knowing Vera: Secrets. Nothing kills or causes more damage to a relationship or potential relationship faster than secrets. But what if the secret you were keeping from your significant other had the power to rock their whole world (not in a good way either)? What if the secret you were keeping from them was that your father was responsible was for death of his/her mother? Would you spill the beans on your secret? ... (Read More)

Friday, June 20, 2014

Escaping the evil man of her past...
With a tattoo gun, Shay Kelly tries to color a better future for herself and her son. When
her abusive ex is paroled this proves to be a difficult task. All her clients used to be his
and he's taking them back. But that's not the only thing he wants.

Screaming his way to the top...
No one can change the visions of Morgan Desario's past, or what he saw the night his
dad died. Marijuana helps the pain his singing can't numb. When his heavy metal band gets
signed, he's flying high. But fame and fortune does nothing to take away the humiliation he
faces every time he gets stuck in a memory.

When their morals slip and their sins collide...
They share the same lifestyle, but couldn't be more different. She's anti-drug and he's all
for smoking pot. A night of passion bonds them together, but their connection is strained when
their pasts are unleashed. On tour, Morgan's sins flourish. At home, Shay's morals bend. A
sharp line separates what's right and wrong that both are afraid to cross.

Will they be cut walking the Razor's Edge?

Rachelle's review: This is a hot romance full of passion, anguish, and pain. It's heartwarming but dangerous. There's nothing tame about Morgan and Shay, not their lifestyles, their past hurts, and their determination to protect the ones they love.

Block out some time, and arm yourself with tissues. This story will tear you up, raise your blood pressure, and have you shaking your fists. The Razor's Edge is a fine line between pleasure and pain.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Atlanta plastic surgeon Charles Stafford is giving up his
successful practice to volunteer his services in Nigeria with a medical
organization. Even though he’s excited about this major career move, he has no
idea how much his life is about to change.

Nurse Adanna Okoro is one of the six medical professionals
working at a small village hospital thirty minutes outside of Lagos, Nigeria.
She loves her job and is devoted to the people she serves. When the hospital is
notified that it has been chosen to host a team of foreign doctors, Adanna
meets the man she has always dreamed of.

EXCERPT

Just as Charles got ready to respond,
the front door opened and Quianna’s overgrown bodyguard ducked his head and
lumbered through with her a few paces behind him. She wasn’t dressed to work out.
In fact, she looked as though she was on her way to a club in a black mini
dress that just barely covered her high, tight booty. She’d accessorized it
with big silver earrings and a pair of thigh-high snakeskin boots cuffed at the
top. Whatever he’d been getting ready to say to Marc flew right out of his
head.

“Hello, Charles.” Her slight Caribbean
accent made everything she said sound sexy. “I’m on my way to an event, but I
thought I would take my chances and see if you were here.”

He stood and approached her. “I just
got here about an hour ago. It’s good to see you, Quianna. You look…lovely.”

She gave a throaty giggle and tossed
back the new long hair that cascaded over her thin shoulders. “Thank you. I was
hoping you could accompany me tonight, since I don’t have an escort.”

Marc and Lance exchanged a glance and
waited for his reply. “I’m sorry, Quianna. I have a meeting tonight. How about
tomorrow night? Will you be in town?”

“Tomorrow night…” The singer, known
worldwide for her theatrical sexiness, pursed her lips as though she had to
give it some thought. “I was invited to another affair tomorrow, but you might
enjoy it. I’ll pick you up at ten.”

Charles saw Marc smirk at her
assertiveness. “What kind of affair is it?”

She smiled. “Just a party.” When she
turned and walked toward the door, her protector rushed to precede her so he
could check the parking lot. “Dress casual,” she said over her shoulder once
she’d stepped outside.

When Charles got back to the house, he
shut the door to the guest room, now his bedroom, and rummaged through his
still-packed suitcases for a pair of pajama bottoms. Suddenly realizing how
tired he was from his full day, he decided to shower in the morning. After he
removed his clothes and pulled back the covers on the bed, he slid under the
sheet and blanket with his mind on his upcoming date with Quianna. Men all over
the world would kill for an evening with the hip-hop princess, and she had
extended the invitation to him. But after Marc’s warning, his outlook about her
wasn’t the same. He had no reason to believe that evening would include sex,
but the way she’d looked at him as though he were something to be devoured,
gave him the feeling that was all Quianna was after. Whatever the evening
brought at least he could say he’d been out with her.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

DESCRIPTION:Edwina James has a very unique ability, she inadvertently channels the incarnations from her past lives. Most days it’s inconvenient, but Edwina and her fiancée have learned to live with it as much as practically possible. That is until a powerful witch, nicknamed the Tigress, who thrived on the innocent eight hundred years ago, sets her sights on her future self-Edwina. The Tigress wants to take her place in the twenty-first century and has the magic to make it happen, so she sends her consciousness into a dimension that is void of matter. Edwina tries to get back home, but that may prove hard, without a body or a sentient thought. If she can free herself, she must find a way to defeat a witch who is cunning and willing to stop at nothing to get what she wants.

EXCERPT:Myheart is beating fast as my friend David, who will give me away appears, ready to escort me
through the back door where I will exit for the last time by the name of Edwina
James. He shouts, "c'mon guys, let’s go," as he loops his arm around
mine ready to move out into the back garden, where the man of my dreams awaits.

Then,
something happens that scares the **** out of me. I start to feel a bit dizzy.
Oh god, no, please don’t tell me it’s happening now! I couldn’t bear it. I feel
a cold sweat flowing through my entire being, and I feel that I am going to
faint. Within seconds I am floating above my body which is now lying near the
back door.

Wedding
guests are milling around my lifeless body as I watch in terror from my out of body position at the level of the
ceiling.

Jack
hears the commotion and rushes inside. He is frantically slapping my face and
saying, "Edwina, it’s okay, it’s me Jack, open your eyes. Calling out to the guests, he shouts,"someone call an ambulance."

And
then it happens, my worst fear has manifested, as my body begins to sit up and
look around with glazed eyes. I go into a state of total panic. Looking on,
helpless, I realize that it must be the Tigress
who is in control of my body.

I
am a nervous wreck and absolutely petrified as I float very close to the
ceiling, where I hear the following words from the one who has possessed me and is now sitting up and
smiling saying to my guests casually, "don’t worry everyone, I'm fine,
I'll be back to normal in a minute."

To
me through thought transference, she snarls. "Now what are you doing up there out of your body Edwina? I mean, if you
don’t want it, I can sure use it." Then, she laughs hysterically and
says through telepathy again, ‘yes, I
have decided that I will use it and do as I wish with it. In fact I know what
I’ll do; I'll send you to a state of nothingness, where you won't even be able
to watch from above like you are doing now Edwina. In fact to make it a lot
worse for you, I'll tell you what I’m going to do whilst you are in isolation
forever.

In a minute, I'll go into the back
garden and marry Jack, and he'll think it's you and that all is fine again. And
guess what Edwina, whilst you are in isolation and in a prison cell of my
making, I'll be having sex with Jack later. But that’s not all I'll do with
him. As you know, my powers are endless, so it will be really easy to turn him
into a slave where he will be at my
beck and call. And Edwina, neither he nor you will be able to resist my powers.
You’ve seen me in action before, so go, be off with you and leave me with Jack
to do as I will. Oh, by the way, before you leave, I want you to know that Jack
will not be able to bring you back like he did the last time, because I'm now
aware of the trigger he used before, and I’ve already made that system
un-workable. Well I see you are still there Edwina, so please **** off."

Within seconds as terror reigns through me, I
find myself spinning through some sort of energy vortex that seems to go on and
on, spinning endlessly. And then without notice, I find myself in a void of
nothingness. There is no sound, and I cannot see anything. In fact, my five
senses are non-existent; all I am is consciousness. What the **** is happening
to me? Where am I? I do not have a body; not even an astral body, which is the
body that I have previously used while astral travelling. A very strange thing
is now entering my consciousness; besides not having any arms, legs, head, eyes,
ears or a body at all, I do not even have any emotions. I cannot feel any fear,
or love, or compassion. I am nothing but pure consciousness; just consciousness
witnessing nothing.

I
can in fact think; I am a
consciousness that can think, but
when I do think, my thoughts do not
produce any emotions. I am just a thinking
consciousness, and that’s all I am, because there is absolutely nothing else.

Without
any fear in my consciousness, due to no emotion being present, I find myself
contemplating my previous condition in a much deeper way. The power of my mind has previously caused certain
things to happen. If I have become angry,
it has caused my heart to beat much faster than normal. And if I have been
nervous, I have felt the sensation of butterflies in my stomach. However, I
have no emotion at the moment and do not have any of these reactions which are
normally caused by thoughts of despair and terror while being in a situation
such as this. I do feel very lost at the moment and am wondering how the **** I
am going to free myself from this very strange condition.

Strangely,
due to having no emotions, my heart is not beating at a hundred miles an hour,
and I do not feel sick due to my predicament, but nevertheless, I still feel
the dire need to escape, because what kind of a life is this? And I need my
emotions back.

But
how the **** do I get away from this nothingness?
What do I do? I mean, there is nowhere to go; there is nothing to see or
hear. Where do I start? It seems impossible to go anywhere from here. It's not
like I can see something in the
distance and head there, what the **** can I do?

This
situation is really bizarre. I am wondering what the **** the Tigress is doing with Jack. I want to
feel angry, but I can’t, I have no emotion. All I know is, I should be there
with him and married by now. Jack and the Tigress
are probably having our wedding meal. Jack will be giving a speech and
saying how much he loves me. The Tigress will
be smiling and portraying herself as me, and knowing her, later she will let
Jack know that it's her and not me.

God
knows what might happen. Just like Edward was petrified when he first saw the Tigress, Jack will be scared stiff with
no way of escape, as her powers are endless.

There
is nothing I can do to help him, and I feel very, very lost, not scared, but
lost. I feel like I have been dropped into a deep black hole where nothing
exists whatsoever. There is neither time nor space here; there is absolutely nothing. I have no concept of time at all. I cannot comprehend the
length of time I have been here,
because time has no meaning now. I
could have been here for hours, or even a day, I wouldn’t know.

So
what will I do? There is nothing I can do. My body won't get tired, because I
don't have one. I won't get hungry or thirsty either. There is no window to
open and see out. I cannot read a book or magazine or watch the television. The
whole earth could disintegrate and I wouldn't know. If it did, I'd probably
just stay here in this nothingness forever.

I
think, and think, and think, but there does not seem to be an answer at all. I
try to move my consciousness back and forth but I cannot move, even if I could,
there does not seem to be anywhere to go.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Throughout his life, Roy Askham has seen
all sorts of signs and signals relating to things that manifested at a later
time, and he knew there was more to life than just random events, that he was
part of a divine plan that is easy to see if one is alert.

He enjoys imagining fantasy worlds, and his
enthusiasm for writing is evident, bringing historical, time travel and
paranormal elements into his work, three things he is passionate about.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Book Description:
Emergency room Doctor
Rachel Wilde and Detective Grant Murphy meet by chance and it takes only one
glance and a simple gentle touch to ignite their senses.

When Grant’s wife is in a tragic accident, Rachel goes above and beyond the
call of duty to save her life. It is the moment she faces Grant again that
their lives begin to spin out of control and they realize the lives of their
loved ones were deeply intertwined.

The distorted loyalties of the ones they lost will drive a wedge between
them and it will take another death, a last will and a look beyond the grave to
find the path they must follow.

Excerpt:

A deep masculine voice reached my ear over my right
shoulder and caused a shiver to go down my spine. “I’m not sure I like the idea
of your son buying my daughter a present.”

I spun around to
view the man who had just spoken so intimately in my ear and had to look up.
Holy cow! This guy could be the twin to the actor who played the leader of the
wolf pack on that hot vampire cable series; only this guy had short hair.

For a moment, I
wasn’t sure if he was being serious or joking with me, but a sexy smile slid
over his lusciously-full mouth, and I realized he was very much not upset.

I cocked my head
to the side, “And what makes you think it is for your daughter?”

He grinned,
“Because I can see the teenaged lust in his eyes.” I laughed at his comment and
glanced at Josh and Jazzy. They were standing close, and she was holding
bottles up for him to smell. The pure look of pleasure he wore on his features
had nothing to do with what he smelled.

“I’m Grant.” He
held his hand out for me to shake and I placed my palm into his. His hands were
huge and swallowed up my petite mitts.

“I’m Rachel.” His
hand spread warmth all the way up my arm. I had not realized how cold I was
until I felt his heated skin.

He released my
hand after a moment longer than necessary, and cleared his throat, “So that’s
Josh?”

“Oh, I see she has
mentioned him.” I absently picked up a bottle from in front of me and sniffed
it. Yuck! It was pine. I blew air out of my nose to clean out my passages and
found Grant chuckling at me.

“Not a fan of
pine?” I took in his features as he spoke and realized I had never seen a man
quite this gorgeous before. His beard ran along his strong jaw, not a heavy
beard, but one that looked soft and just full enough to want to touch. His wavy
hair was tussled over his forehead, from either the wind or his own hand
running aimlessly through it. My fingers twitched to reach
out.

“No, not at all,
I’m a sweet and fruity girl.” I glanced back to the kids again and saw them
talking softly, their heads bent towards each other. “Ah, to be young and in
love again.”

“Does age really
matter?” he queried.

“Well, isn’t it
when you are young that those first moments are the most special? You know,
that first look when your heart beats out of your chest?” Like mine was doing
right that second.

He stepped closer,
“What about those first words?”

“Or that first
touch. You know those little electrical impulses that flow through your skin?”
I said softly, remembering the warmth his handshake had sent up my arm.

“And the
butterflies that fill your stomach,” he volleyed back as he stared me down with
big soulful blue eyes.

“The same ones
that take flight and steal your heart,” I whispered.

“But nothing
compares to the anticipation of the first kiss.” He glanced at my lips and I
realized that I was breathless as I flicked my tongue over my dry lips to wet
them. My God! What was this man doing to me, and why was I allowing him to
affect me in such a way?

I realized the
moment I heard Josh yell that Grant and I had been lost in our own little
world, and that the sounds of the shoppers and holiday music had all faded
away. It was the sound of utter panic in my son’s voice that broke through the
romantic moment and planted my feet back on the hard wooden planks of the store
floor.

“Mom!” Josh
shouted, and I spun toward him expecting to see a display all over the floor,
but the look of sheer horror on his face directed at the front window caught my
attention and I turned. “I think someone just got run over by a car,” he yelled
and took off toward the door. I dropped the bottle I had in my hand on the
nearest table and rushed to follow him.

The moment the
door opened, I heard a woman yelling. I took off running between two cars
parked outside the shop. I heard heavy footsteps behind me but didn’t turn to
look.

A woman stood in
the parking lot screaming and crying, and as I made my way around an SUV to a
large blue construction van, I saw the unmoving feet of a woman lying on the
ground under the chassis of the van. I dropped my purse to the ground and went
to my knees beside the unconscious woman’s feet.

Behind the
Scenes: Distorted Loyalty was written in 28 days. This story flowed really
quickly and I had no choice but to sit and write while the characters spoke. As
soon as I finished writing this one, I jumped right into Six Days of Memories,
which releases June 30th, and wrote that book in 5 weeks.

Bio: Stacy is a full-time police
officer who enjoys crime scene investigation above all else, taking a passion
in putting the pieces together to figure out the crime. She is also a business
owner where she helps people get the awareness out for the causes they care
most about. She is a mother of two, a son proudly serving in the United States
Navy and a young daughter. Her husband is also in law enforcement. She is very
much into photography and carries her Nikon Digital SLR with her almost
everywhere, just in case.

Book Description: Emergency room Doctor
Rachel Wilde and Detective Grant Murphy meet by chance and it takes only one
glance and a simple gentle touch to ignite their senses.

When Grant’s wife is in a tragic accident, Rachel goes above and beyond the
call of duty to save her life. It is the moment she faces Grant again that
their lives begin to spin out of control and they realize the lives of their
loved ones were deeply intertwined.

The distorted loyalties of the ones they lost will drive a wedge between
them and it will take another death, a last will and a look beyond the grave to
find the path they must follow.

Excerpt: A deep masculine voice reached my ear over my right
shoulder and caused a shiver to go down my spine. “I’m not sure I like the idea
of your son buying my daughter a present.”

I spun around to
view the man who had just spoken so intimately in my ear and had to look up.
Holy cow! This guy could be the twin to the actor who played the leader of the
wolf pack on that hot vampire cable series; only this guy had short hair.

For a moment, I
wasn’t sure if he was being serious or joking with me, but a sexy smile slid
over his lusciously-full mouth, and I realized he was very much not upset.

I cocked my head
to the side, “And what makes you think it is for your daughter?”

He grinned,
“Because I can see the teenaged lust in his eyes.” I laughed at his comment and
glanced at Josh and Jazzy. They were standing close, and she was holding
bottles up for him to smell. The pure look of pleasure he wore on his features
had nothing to do with what he smelled.

“I’m Grant.” He
held his hand out for me to shake and I placed my palm into his. His hands were
huge and swallowed up my petite mitts.

“I’m Rachel.” His
hand spread warmth all the way up my arm. I had not realized how cold I was
until I felt his heated skin.

He released my
hand after a moment longer than necessary, and cleared his throat, “So that’s
Josh?”

“Oh, I see she has
mentioned him.” I absently picked up a bottle from in front of me and sniffed
it. Yuck! It was pine. I blew air out of my nose to clean out my passages and
found Grant chuckling at me.

“Not a fan of
pine?” I took in his features as he spoke and realized I had never seen a man
quite this gorgeous before. His beard ran along his strong jaw, not a heavy
beard, but one that looked soft and just full enough to want to touch. His wavy
hair was tussled over his forehead, from either the wind or his own hand
running aimlessly through it. My fingers twitched to reach
out.

“No, not at all,
I’m a sweet and fruity girl.” I glanced back to the kids again and saw them
talking softly, their heads bent towards each other. “Ah, to be young and in
love again.”

“Does age really
matter?” he queried.

“Well, isn’t it
when you are young that those first moments are the most special? You know,
that first look when your heart beats out of your chest?” Like mine was doing
right that second.

He stepped closer,
“What about those first words?”

“Or that first
touch. You know those little electrical impulses that flow through your skin?”
I said softly, remembering the warmth his handshake had sent up my arm.

“And the
butterflies that fill your stomach,” he volleyed back as he stared me down with
big soulful blue eyes.

“The same ones
that take flight and steal your heart,” I whispered.

“But nothing
compares to the anticipation of the first kiss.” He glanced at my lips and I
realized that I was breathless as I flicked my tongue over my dry lips to wet
them. My God! What was this man doing to me, and why was I allowing him to
affect me in such a way?

I realized the
moment I heard Josh yell that Grant and I had been lost in our own little
world, and that the sounds of the shoppers and holiday music had all faded
away. It was the sound of utter panic in my son’s voice that broke through the
romantic moment and planted my feet back on the hard wooden planks of the store
floor.

“Mom!” Josh
shouted, and I spun toward him expecting to see a display all over the floor,
but the look of sheer horror on his face directed at the front window caught my
attention and I turned. “I think someone just got run over by a car,” he yelled
and took off toward the door. I dropped the bottle I had in my hand on the
nearest table and rushed to follow him.

The moment the
door opened, I heard a woman yelling. I took off running between two cars
parked outside the shop. I heard heavy footsteps behind me but didn’t turn to
look.

A woman stood in
the parking lot screaming and crying, and as I made my way around an SUV to a
large blue construction van, I saw the unmoving feet of a woman lying on the
ground under the chassis of the van. I dropped my purse to the ground and went
to my knees beside the unconscious woman’s feet.

Behind the
Scenes: Distorted Loyalty was written in 28 days. This story flowed really
quickly and I had no choice but to sit and write while the characters spoke. As
soon as I finished writing this one, I jumped right into Six Days of Memories,
which releases June 30th, and wrote that book in 5 weeks.

Bio: Stacy is a full-time police
officer who enjoys crime scene investigation above all else, taking a passion
in putting the pieces together to figure out the crime. She is also a business
owner where she helps people get the awareness out for the causes they care
most about. She is a mother of two, a son proudly serving in the United States
Navy and a young daughter. Her husband is also in law enforcement. She is very
much into photography and carries her Nikon Digital SLR with her almost
everywhere, just in case.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Lady Viola Oberbrook only wanted to forget the ill-fated
early morning duel that took the lives of two young, wealthy, promising men of
the ton and sent her fleeing for her
father’s country estate. Eight years later, she has her life in order: a
fulfilling business, a few trusted friends, and no plans to return to London
society. What she doesn’t expect is to come face to face with her past.

A Lord Betrayed by
One…

Brock Spencer, Earl of Haversham, only wants vengeance.
Recently returned from his military service to the King, his plans include
repairing his family estate, finding a bride, and destroying the girl
responsible for the untimely death of his twin brothers. What he doesn’t
anticipate is falling in love with the only woman who should never be part of
his future.

An Impossible Match,
Destined to Be…

About the Author:

Christina
McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged
her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since. Currently, she
focuses on Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.

Christina
enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots
of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found
writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.

Follow her on Twitter: @CMcKnightWriter

Keep up to date on her releases: www.christinamcknight.com

Like
Christina’s FB Author page: ChristinaMcKnightWriter

Add Shunned No More to your Goodreads List:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16099744-shunned-no-more-a-lady-forsaken

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Author annamaria bazzi has a new book out, Incantation Paradox. From what I've seen of it, it is very different and in a nice way. Fantasy, magic, and even a hint of romance are combined for a very curious story. annamaria was kind enough to sit with me and answer a few questions.

R: Today, I'm happy to welcome annamaria bazzi, my friend
and fellow author, to Rachelle's Window. annamaria writes fiction that mixes
fantasy and magic. I'm always amazed by her imagination and I think you'll be
intrigued too. annamaria, would you like a cup of cappuccino to go with the
biscotti, or a cup of tea?

a: A cup of cappuccino sounds wonderful, I can never refuse
such a great drink. I do want to thank you for having me over. You know how
much I love chatting with you.

You're having biscotti also, aren't you?

R: Yes, I had some lovely biscotti while in Pittsburgh. I
love the ones with anise and of course the chocolate dip. One cappuccino coming
up. Sorry I haven’t mastered the layering of a heart on top. I hear you grew up
in Italy. Are there some fond childhood memories that made it into your
stories?

a: No, I hate to say it, but no. I still have a hard time
putting down on paper that part of my life, but I always tell myself that one
day I’ll sit down and write about it.

What about you? I know you use your culture in your books,
but do you use some of your youthful memories?

R: Yes, here and there. I grew up in a very ethnically mixed
neighborhood, so a lot of what I learned about friends and their families helps
me make my stories more authentic. But, back to you. Is there a reason you
enjoy fantasy and magic?

a: Magic as always been a part of my life. I remember as a
child, all my cousins, when we got together, would ask me to make up adventure
games to fill our afternoons or evenings while all our parents chatted over
cappuccino.

I was always happy to oblige and my adventurous games always
involved magic. I was always a creature with magic, the creator of fun.

Frank Hubert introduced me to the world of science fiction,
and because I love both, I mix the two genres in my novels and throw in a pinch
of romance for good luck.

When did you realize you wanted to be a romance writer?

R: That’s a good question. I started out with historical
fiction, but very quickly found out I was only interested in the romance
portion. I then took a gander at romantic suspense because I was challenged
by the interplay between two story lines, the external plot with the criminals
and woman in jeopardy versus the internal emotional changes between the hero
and heroine. In many ways, romantic suspense is the best of both worlds, filled
with action, drama, thrills as well as a dash of romance and love.

Recently I decided to try pure romance to see if I could improve my character development and emotions. I found it heck of fun. The interplay between the hero and heroine provide ample opportunity for both hot, steamy moments and hilarious humor.

How about you? Have you ever thought of writing pure romance
instead of a novel with romantic elements?

a: Yes, I’ve thought about it only because I’m a very poor
romantic scene writer. To be well-rounded authors, we must challenge ourselves
and write that which makes us uncomfortable. Writing love scenes makes me
uncomfortable because I’m very poor at it, and that’s the reason I only have
elements of romance in my novels.

Growing up, I’ve always been an avid reader. I started with
the classics like Little Women, Pollyanna, The Secret Garden and then moved on
to Jane Austin, I believe I’ve read all her books, Emily and Charlotte Bronte,
George Elliot, Alexander Dumas, Dante’s Inferno, William Thackeray, Oscar
Wilde, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, I could go on, but then I discovered Frank
Herbert and Terry Goodkind and the world of science fiction and fantasy opened
up for me and my writing took on a new shape.

R: Sounds great. I can tell you like a wide variety of literature. Can you talk more about
the types of story you write? Do you like to mix genres and come up with
something unique?

a: In most instances I love to mix fantasy with science
fiction, and I always throw in a pinch of romance. Right now I’m working on a
novel for young adults I call Dragons in the Resistance where I deal with an
alien culture that likes to dominate and take over their world forcing their
beliefs on others. Something we see in our world in many different levels. A
sub-plot in the novel deals with oppression of women. As a friend of mine put
it, I take things I don’t like in our world, set them in a made up world so I
can solve the problems with my imagination.

White Swans which I’m hoping to release at the end of the
year beginning of the new one, deals with teens trying to assert themselves as
they discover who they really want to be. The novel is set in an alien world
that mimics our Regency Era, one of my favorite time periods. Besides adventure
and a pinch of romance, it has magic. You could say it has something to satisfy
many people.

Incantation Paradox is an adult, urban fantasy I wrote for
pure enjoyment. I took an overly done theme and reinvented it. The old body
switch from old to young has gone to a new dimension with magic, intrigue and
murder. I hope many will enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

R So you’re basically writing about society issues
that are important to you and framing them in a fantasy world where you can do
something about it. Tell me, how did you find time to write given your busy
career and family obligations?

a: Many times I put the kids to bed and then stayed
up late just so I could write a little. I always kept pencil and paper near my
night table so if a brilliant idea came to mind at night I could jot it down.
It became easier to write once they became teens and I wasn’t the center of
their world anymore. Although I still keep pen and paper near my night table
and find myself writing before turning the light out.

Do you ever write before you turn off the lights?

R: I’m not that good with jotting down stuff at night.
I’ve tried it a few times in the past. Jot down what I thought was brilliant in
the middle of the night, but I noticed I never used it or thought it was so
great once I woke up. Maybe I’ll start trying it again.

What’s next on the horizon?

a: Now that Incantation Paradox is out, I’m working
on a young adult series called White Swans. The first book is called A Regency
World and I hope to be able to release it at the end of the year beginning of
the new one. I’m also working on a collection of short stories and I hope to
release in the middle of 2015. I love to keep busy.

R: That's great. I'm sure your readers will be happy to hear you're keeping busy. Thanks for dropping by for a chat. Let's break out this box of chocolate to celebrate your new book.

a: Why thanks. It's been fun visiting.

Product Description for Incantation Paradox:

Magic is an illusion. It doesn’t really exist. Or does it?

A horrible car accident destroys Dolores Reynard’s life. But instead of waking up in a hospital bed, she awakens in a teenager’s body. Soon, she discovers she is at the heart of the murderous mystery surrounding the death of Mona, the young girl whose body she occupies. Caught between an evil greater than she ever imagined and a wizard who heals her tattered heart, she is forced to play a dangerous game of intrigue in the hopes of finding a way to return to her previous life.

Will magic be her ally, or will it lead to her demise once and for all.

Although
born in the United States, Annamaria Bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood
in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at
home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a
strange country. Upon returning to the states, she promised herself she would
speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit
Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor
in Spanish.

Annamaria
spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating
innovative solution, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she
raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia
with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

When did you get your first inkling to write, and how did
you advance the call for writing?

I actually started my publishing journey in my mid-forties.
It was during a major transition in my life that the passion and desire to
write became apparent. I wrote my first non-fiction book in 2007, and it was
released in 2008; and I have continued to release a book each year thereafter.

Introduce us to your book and the main characters.

Living Separate Lives, a Christian Novella, centers around
four high school friends, who have not seen each other in years. Candace
Walker, Kaylan Smith, Jordan Tate, and Tiffany Thomas have agreed to come
together for a mini retreat in Napa County. A well-planned out weekend of fun,
relaxation and a reunion turned into a nightmare.

What makes each
characters special?

Each of the characters is dealing with their own personal
issues. For Candace Walker, life has left her battered and bruised. Kaylan
Smith has struggled with prejudice from her in-laws. After fifteen years of
marriage, bitterness is trying to raise its ugly head for Jordan Tate, whose
husband wants to call it quits. And for Tiffany Thomas, dealing with rejection
has never been one of her greatest feats.

Do you have any
favorites in Living Separate Lives?

I would have to say Tiffany Thomas. She is very successful,
opinionated, and knows exactly what she wants. Her strength as a woman is
something I truly admire.

Which character can you identify with the most? Why?

I am able to identify with each of the characters in Living
Separate Lives. The book opens up by introducing Candace, who is reflecting on
her life, her troubled family and the consequences of the decisions she has
made. There are other characters such as Kaylan, who is a giving person and
only believes the best in people. She demonstrates the character of Christ.
Tiffany is in a league of her own. She’s independent and strong, yet she
recognizes her weaknesses. The innocence of Jordan leads her into unfamiliar
territory that will rock her faith and cause her to take a step back and
evaluate the one person she thought she knew well.

Does your faith or education inspire your writing?

Yes. Absolutely! Each of the characters will always have
faith as their foundation. As a believer in Christ, I believe it’s important to
share my faith in my stories.

What are your goals as a writer? Do you educate? Entertain?
Illuminate? Inspire?

My goals as a writer are to hone my skills and become the
best writer I possibly can.

Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?

As an inspirational and fiction writer, I write to inspire
and empower readers. I write because I feel I have message to share with
readers, not only to entertain readers but to help them grow spiritually. I
love to mix real life stories into my fiction. Although each story is unique,
we experience some of the same feelings, situations, and challenges in life in
which the reader can identity. With the ability to craft fiction books, it
gives me the opportunity to live through each character.

Paulette Harper is an award-winning and best-selling author. She is the owner of Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tours and is passionate about helping authors succeed in publishing and marketing their books. Paulette has been writing and publishing books since 2008. Paulette is the author of That Was Then, This is Now, Completely Whole and The Sanctuary. Her articles have appeared on-line and in print.